Weight lifting type exerciser with indicator

ABSTRACT

An exercising apparatus for particularly exercising upper extremities of a person. The apparatus includes an upright frame and at least one weight plate vertically movable along the frame. A cable is connected at one free end to the weight plate, looped over a top end of the frame and over a guide roller adjacent a lower frame end. A chin-up bar is connected to the upper portion of the frame and extends laterally away therefrom for the performance of chin-ups while the other free end of the cable is connected to the body of the exercising person so that he must lift the weight plate during each chin-up. A counter is coupled with the apparatus for visibly indicating to the user the number of times he performs a given exercise.

waited States Patent [191 ilaLanne [451 Aug. 14, 1973 WEEGHT LHFTHNGTYPE EXERCISER WITH HNDHCATOR Jack LaLanne, Hollywood, Calif.

The Jack LaLanne Company, Glendale, Calif.

Aug. 17, 1970 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1880 Gifford et a1. 272/819/1885 Forest 272/81 1/1925 Hargreaves... 272/D1G. 5 3/1961 Morris272/81 3/1970 Eichom 272/62 X 10/1971 Blickman 272/62 12/1904 Bryon272/81 8/1970 Kane 272/62 X 5/1956 McCord et a1 116/115 X PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. BrowneAttorney-Townsend and Townsend [5 7] ABSTRACT An exercising apparatusfor particularly exercising upper extremities of a person. The apparatusincludes an upright frame and at least one weight plate verticallymovable along the frame. A cable is connected at one free end to theweight plate, looped over a top end of the frameand over a guide rolleradjacent a lower frame end. A chin-up bar is connected to the upperportion of the frame and extends laterally away therefrom for theperformance of chin-ups while the other free end of the cable isconnected to the body of the exercising person so that he must lift theweight plate during each chin-up. A counter is coupled with theapparatus for visibly indicating to the user the number of times heperforms a given exercise.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] AUG 14 I978 sum 1 0F 2 Hana WEIGHTLIFTING TYPE EXERCISER WITH INDICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to the devices for human physical conditioningin which exercises are performed by pulling on a cable to lift weights.

Generally speaking, such a device is well known. It usually employhandle bars secured to an end of the cable which are pulled downwardlyor upwardly for the perforamnce of various exrrcises. It is also knownto attach special fittings to the cable end to enable the grapsing ofthat end with one hand only, to attach the cable end to the exercisersleg or the like.

Exercisers of this type are constructed of an upright frame, preferablydefined by a plurality of two spaced apart posts that reston a supportplate. Their upper end is joined with a suitable top plate. Weightplates engage one or more of the posts and are vertically movabletherealong. A cable attached to the weight plates is looped over pulleysat the upper end of the frame and extends downwardly along a frame postand over a guide pulley mounted to a carriage vertically movable alongthat post so that the vertical position at which the free cable endextends away from the frame can be suitably adjusted. I

Such exercising apparatus is convenient to use and quite effective tothe extent it can be employed while exercising a human body. However,this type and variety of exercises that can be performed with suchapparatus is limited-The relatively high cost of such apparatus togetherwith their use limitations therefore frequently discourages people fromacquiring such apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides exercisingapparatus of -the type described in the preceeding paragraphs whichconstructed to enable the performance of additional exercises and thussignificantly. increase the versatility of the apparatus. It isparticularly well adapted for exercising-the musculature of upper bodyportions, including the arms and hands although other I body portionscan be exercised if desired. Briefly, the

exercising apparatus of the present invention comprises an uprightframe, at least one weight plate vertically movable along the frame, acable having a first end for connection with the weight plate and asecond free end and means carreid by the frame for guiding the cablefrom the weight plate upwardly to a top portion of the frame and hencedownwardly towards a lower portion of the frame for extension of a cableportion adjacent the second aend away from the lower frame end.Attachment means is mounted to the frame including gripping means forgrasping with at least one hand of the person. Means is further providedfor the transfer of motions of upper extremities of the exercisingperson to the second cableend whereby such motions are transferred tothe first cable end and cause a corresponding vertical displacement ofthe weight plate.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, means operatively coupledto the cable is provided and mounted to the upright frame in plane viewof the exercising person for counting the number of times the cable hasbeen operated to raise the weight plate. This facilitates theiease withwhich the exercising person can control the extent of his exercise.

The attachment means provided by the present invention can be readilyinstalledon existing exercisers to thus increase their versatility. Thistogether with their relatively low cost substantially enhances theattractiveness of the described exercising apparatus to the generalpublic and thus facilitates their wide-spread use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational perspectiveview of an upright weight lifting exerciser provided with a chin-upattachment and a cycle counter in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevational view of the chin-upattachment as seen in the direction 2-'-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, in section, of the chin-up attachment and istaken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of a portion ofthe chin-up attachment and is taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a lower portion of theweight lifting exercising apparatus DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. I, the exercising apparatus 12 ofthe present invention comprises a base 14 whichis preferably secured,e.g. bolted to the supporting floor 16, a pair of spaced apart rearvertical posts 18, a forward vertical post 20 and a top plate 22interconnecting the posts to form a rigid upright frame 24. A carriage26 is vertically movable along forward post 2 and provides a guidepulley 2 over which a cable 30 is' looped. The cable extends generallyupwardly from guide pulley 28, over a pair of stationary pulleys 32, 33,mounted to top plate 22, and hence downwardly towards base 14. At thelower end of the cable there is mounted a connecting member 34 forinterconnecting the cable with one or more of a.plurality of verticallystacked weight plates 36 resting on base 14 for movement of theconnected plates with the cable in an axial direction of the cable alongrear posts 18 in a vertical direction whenever an axial cable force isapplied to a free cable end portion 38 extending away from carriage 26.

Referring to FIGS. 1 thorugh 4, a chin-up device 40 is mounted to theupper end of frame 24. The device comprises laterally spaced sets 42 offirst and second legs 44 and 46, respectively, which have their aft endssecured to rear posts 18 and front post 2, respectively with threadedbolts 48. The forward end of the legs is welded to a horizontallydisposed, transverse handle bar 50 to define a rigid, unitaryattachmentfor exercising apparatus 12 and which extends past leg sets 42 to definegripping portions 52. Grip members 54 constructd of rubber, plastic or alike material'is slipped over handle bar gripping portions 52 andfacilitates the secure grasping of the gripping portions by the hands ofan exercising person.

Chin-up device 40 is so mounted to the upper end of frame 24 thatgripping portions 52 are sufficiently high above groudn 16 to requirethe exercising person to stretch his arms before he can reach thegripping portions. Adjustability can be provided by including aplurality of vertically spaced bars for threaded bolts 48 to adjust thevertical position of the gripping portions according to the height ofthe exercising person.

The free end of cable 30 is provided with a suitable hook 56 forengaging a belt 53 or the like of the exercising person so that duringeach chin-up he must raise weight plates 36.

A cycle indicator 60 is preferably mounted to forwad post 20 andoperatively connectd with cable 30 so that a pointer 62 of the indicatoris advanced an increment each time the exercising person completes anexercising cycle by lifting and lowering weight plates 36. Such a cycleindicator is disclosed in the commonly owned, copending patentapplication bearing Ser. No. 37,553, filed May 15, 1970, for EXERCISERwhich is incorporated herein by reference. The detailed construction ofthe cycle indicator is therefore not further set forth herein.

Referring to FIGS. through 7, carriage 26 includes a pair of verticallyspaced, laterally projecting horizontal flanges 59 and 61 which havevertically aligned apertures 63 through which a vertical leg 65 of thebalancing bar 67 extendsfTe balancing bar includes a substantiallyhorizontally disposed, or slightly downwardly sloped, transverse orhorizontal member 69 which can be grasped by an exercising person. Whennot needed the balancing bar is virtually instantaneously removed fromthe exercising device by simply wthdrawing it from apertures 63.

A grip exercising device 70 is mounted to horizontal member 69 of thebalancing bar about midway between upright legs 65 thereof. The handexercising device comprises a grip handle 72 one end of which ispivotable about a pin 74 of a mounting block 76 secured to the undersideof horizontal bar 69 with a pair of threaded bolts 78. The other end ofthe handle defines a hook portion 80 engaged by a suitable connectnglink 82 of the free end of cable 30. Weight plate 36 applied to theother end of cable 30 biases grip 72 in a clockwise direction, as viewedin FIG. 6 away from horizontal member 69.

An exercising person can thus balance himself with balancing bar 67 andat the same time perform arm and hand musculature exercises by graspinggrip 72 and repeatedly pivoting it in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 6, into its position (shown in phantom lines) adjacenthorizontla member 69 of the balancing bar and, thereafter, againreleasing the grip. The earilier described cycle indicator (not shown inFIGS. 5 through 7) is agian utilized to keep track of the number ofexercising cycles performed by the exercising person.

The attachments provided by the present invention, namely chin-updevices 40 and hand exercising device 70 do not alter the basicoperating principle of exerciser 12 as fully described in the abovereferenced copending patent application. When, however, in the course ofa complete exercising program arm and hand musculature exercise andparticularly chin-ups or gripping exercises are called for, they can beperformed on exerciser 12 by employing the vertical weight liftingfeature built into this exerciser by merely connecting te free end ofcable 30 to the belt or the like of the exercisers clothing in the caseof chin-up exercises, or to hook portion of grip 72 in case of handexercises. The cycle indicator helps the exerciser to pace and count hisexercises. After completion of these exercises, the exerciser can againby employed for any other desired exercise that can be perforemd withit.

I claim:

1. An exercising apparatus for particularly exercising the musculator ofan upper portion, including upper extremities of an exercising person,the apparatus comprising: an upright frame, at least one weight platevertically movable along the frame, a cable having a first free endconnected to the weight plate and a second free end, means carried bythe frame for guiding the cable from the weight plate upwardly to a topportion of the frame and hence downwardly towards a lower portion of theframe for extension of a cable portion adjacent the second end away fromthe lower frame end, gripping means rigidly secured to the frameadjacent an upper end thereof at a sufficient height from a supportingground to enable a person to hang therefrom without touching the ground,and means fuor securing the second free end to a user so that whilegasping the gripping means, which is cantilever from the upper end ofthe upright frame, any boty raising motions by a user spaced from andwhose position during an exercise program is substantially parallel tothe upright frame, will be trasnferred to the first free end and causevertical displacement of the weight plate.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means demountably securingthe gripping means to the frame.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for securing thegripping means to an upper portion of the frame.

' 4. Apparatus for exercising body musculature by vertically displacinga weight comprising: an upright frame including a body support surface,the frame terminating in an upper end spaced several feet above ground,a weight plate vertically movable along the frame, cable means having afirst and second free end, said first free end engageable with theweight plate, cable guide means for guiding the cable means from theweight plate to adjacent the body support surfvce, said body supportsurface comprising a pair of spaced apart handles contilevered from theupper end of the upright frame, means for immovably securing the handlesto the frame adjacent the upper end of the frame at a position spacedabove the ground a sufficient distance so that a person must stretchoverhead to grasp the handles, and means attached to the second free endof the calbe means for securing said second free end to a user wherebyany upward movement of a user spaced from and whose position during anexercise program is substantially parallel to the upright frame, duringan exercise program will cause an upward movement of the weight plate.

5. Apparatus accoridng to claim 4 wherein the frame further includessubstntially vertical, spaced apart forward and rear posts, wherein thecable guiding means guides the cable means in a generally verticaldirection along the forward post to adhacent the body support surface,the handle securing means comprising a laterally extending supportstructure projecting in the direction from the rear post, remote fromthe user, to the forward post, immediately adjacent a user, past theforward post and terminating in spaced apart ends, and including asubstantially horizontally disposed bar member rigidly interconnectingthe ends, and said bar memher having laterally protruding end sectionsdefining the handles.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for visibly indicatingto the exercising person the number of chin-ups performed by him, saidlast mentioned means being carried by the frame, operatively connectedwith the cable means, and a user.

7. In an apparatus for exercising musculature by vertically lifting aweight, the apparatus having an upright frame mounted to a supportplate, at least one weight plate guided by the frame for verticalmovement therealong, a cable having a first free end connected to theweight plate, a cable payout carriage movable along the framein avertical direction, cable guide mans guiding the cable from the weightplate over an upper frame portion and into engagement with the carriageso that a second free end of the cable depends from the carriage, theimprovement comprising: a chin-up attachemtn including a support framefor connection to an upper end of the frame, a horizontally extendinghandle bar cantilevered from the upper end of the upright frame definingfirst and second hand grip portions, the support frame and the handlebar being constructed so tat the grip portions aredisposed a sufficientdistance above groudn that an exercising person must stretch his armsupwardly for grasping the grip portions, and means for connecting thesecond free cable end to a users body so that any upward movement by auser spaced from and whose position during an exercise progarm issubstantially parallel to the upright frame while grapsing the grippingportion, while the second free end cable end is connected to a usersbody, will cause the weight plate to be moved vertically.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the frame comprises a pair ofspaced apart rear posts and at least one front post spaced from the rearposts, wherein the support frame includes a pair of laterally spacedsets of legs sets to thereby form a rigid chin-up attachment.

1. An exercising apparatus for particularly exercising the musculator ofan upper portion, including upper extremities of an exercising person,the apparatus comprising: an upright frame, at least one weight platevertically movable along the frame, a cable having a first free endconnected to the weight plate and a second free end, means carried bythe frame for guiding the cable from the weight plate upwardly to a topportion of the frame and hence downwardly towards a lower portion of theframe for extension of a cable portion adjacent the second end away fromthe lower frame end, gripping means rigidly secured to the frameadjacent an upper end thereof at a sufficient height from a supportingground to enable a person to hang therefrom without touching the ground,and means fuor securing the second free end to a user so that whilegasping the gripping means, which is cantilever from the upper end ofthe upright frame, any boty raising motions by a user spaced from andwhose position during an exercise program is substantially parallel tothe upright frame, will be trasnferred to the first free end and causevertical displacement of the weight plate.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 including means demountably securing the gripping means to theframe.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for securingthe gripping means to an upper portion of the frame.
 4. Apparatus forexercising body musculature by vertically displacing a weightcomprising: an upright frame including a body support surface, the frameterminating in an upper end spaced several feet above ground, a weightplate vertically movable along the frame, cable means having a first andsecond free end, said first free end engageable with the weight plate,cable guide means for guiding the cable means from the weight plate toadjacent the body support surfvce, said body support surface comprisinga pair of spaced apart handles contilevered from the upper end of theupright frame, means for immovably securing the handles to the frameadjacent the upper end of the frame at a position spaced above theground a sufficient distance so that a person must stretch overhead tograsp the handles, and means attached to the second free end of thecalbe means for securing said second free end to a user whereby anyupward movement of a user spaced from and whose position during anexercise program is substantially parallel to the upright frame, duringan exercise program will cause an upward movement of the weight plate.5. Apparatus accoridng to claim 4 wherein the frame further includessubstntially vertical, spaced apart forward and rear posts, wherein thecable guiding means guides the cable means in a generally verticaldirection along the forward post to adhacent the body support surface,the handle securing means comprising a laterally extending supportstructure projecting in the direction from the rear post, remote fromthe user, to the forward post, immediately adjacent a user, past theforward post and terminating in spaced apart ends, and including asubstantially horizontally disposed bar member rigidly interconnectingthe ends, and said bar member having laterally protruding end sectionsdefining the handles.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including meansfor visibly indicating to the exercising person the number of chin-upsperformed by him, said last mentioned means being carried by the frame,operatively connected with the cable means, and a user.
 7. In anapparatus for exercising musculature by vertically lifting a weight, theapparatus having an upright frame mounted to a support plate, at leastone weight plate guided by the frame for vertical movement therealong, acable having a first free end connected to the weight plate, a cablepayout carriage movable along the framein a vertical direction, cableguide mans guiding the cable from the wEight plate over an upper frameportion and into engagement with the carriage so that a second free endof the cable depends from the carriage, the improvement comprising: achin-up attachemtn including a support frame for connection to an upperend of the frame, a horizontally extending handle bar cantilevered fromthe upper end of the upright frame defining first and second hand gripportions, the support frame and the handle bar being constructed so tatthe grip portions are disposed a sufficient distance above groudn thatan exercising person must stretch his arms upwardly for grasping thegrip portions, and means for connecting the second free cable end to auser''s body so that any upward movement by a user spaced from and whoseposition during an exercise progarm is substantially parallel to theupright frame while grapsing the gripping portion, while the second freeend cable end is connected to a user''s body, will cause the weightplate to be moved vertically.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 whereinthe frame comprises a pair of spaced apart rear posts and at least onefront post spaced from the rear posts, wherein the support frameincludes a pair of laterally spaced sets of first and second legssecured to the rear and front posts, respectively, and wherein thehandle bar forms a rigid connection between free ends of the first andsecond legs sets to thereby form a rigid chin-up attachment.